Portable hammock

ABSTRACT

The specification discloses a portable hammock that includes a hammock body, a pair of suspension straps, and a stuff sack. The suspension straps are attached to opposite ends of the hammock body. The stuff sack includes two open ends and a partition therebetween. One of the straps extends through the partition. The stuff sack remains on the one strap when the portable hammock is suspended between two objects. The portable hammock may be self-stored within the stuff sack, in which case the one strap is on one side of the partition, and the other strap and the hammock body are on the other side of the partition. The stuff sack includes cinch cords at the open ends for selectively closing the ends. The stuff sack includes a carrying strap, which also serves as a compression strap.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to hammocks, and more particularly toportable hammocks.

Portable hammocks are well known and widely used. A portable hammocktypically includes a hammock body, straps for suspending the body, and astuff sack. For transportation (e.g. backpacking or day hiking), thehammock body and the straps are stored within the stuff sack. When thehammock is to be used, the hammock body and the straps are removed fromthe stuff sack; and the straps are used to suspend the hammock bodybetween two stationary objects such as trees, boulders, or posts.

The stuff sack may be either single-ended or double-ended. Asingle-ended sack has a single opening closed by a cinch cord. Thehammock body and the straps are stuffed into and withdrawn from thestuff sack through the single opening. When the hammock is withdrawnfrom the sack, the sack is separated from the hammock and thereforesubject to loss, soiling, or damage.

A double-ended sack includes two opposite open ends, each closed by acinch cord. When the hammock body and the straps are withdrawn from thebag, one of the straps is withdrawn through one open end; and the otherof the straps and the hammock body are withdrawn through the other openend. This results in the bag remaining on one or the other of thestraps. Consequently, the bag is “self-stored” on the suspended hammock.Therefore, the bag need not be separately stored; and the bag is alwayspresent when to hammock is to be stuffed back into the sack. An exampleof a portable hammock having a double-ended sack is the “AppalachianHammock DL Custom” sold by Appalachian Hammock of Greenville, N.C. Thisportable hammock may be viewed athttp://appalachianhammock.com/products/appalachian-hammock-dl-custom.The stuff sack may be viewed separately athttp://appalachianhammock.com/collections/components/products/double-ended-ah-stuff-sack.

Unfortunately, the double-ended stuff sack also has shortcomings.Perhaps most notably, the stuff sack can easily become separated fromthe hammock body and the straps when the hammock is suspended. In fact,some users prefer to do so. Consequently, the stuff sack can fall intodirt or water or become soiled or damaged on the ground or in the water.Further, when the hammock body and straps are to be stuffed back intothe sack, pushing the body and straps into one open and can result inthem simply passing through the sack and falling out of the oppositeopen and. Consequently, one end of the sack must first be closed beforethe contents can be put into the opposite open end. However, thisapproach results in the double ended sack in essence functioning as asingle-ended sack.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The aforementioned problems are overcome by the present invention inwhich a portable hammock includes a double-ended stuff sack that is moresecurely retained on the deployed hammock and that more easilyaccommodates stuffing of the hammock body and the straps into the sack.

More particularly, the portable hammock includes a hammock body,opposite suspension assemblies, and a double-ended stuff sack. The stuffsack includes two opposite open ends each closed by a cinch cord. Thestuff sack further includes a partition between the first and secondopen ends. The partition defines an opening through which one of thesuspension assemblies extends.

The partitioned stuff sack addresses the shortcomings of the prior art.First, the partition greatly reduces the likelihood that the stuff sackwill fall off the hammock body and/or the suspension assemblies duringdeployment of the hammock. Second, the partition provides a “dead end”to both open ends of the sack enabling the hammock body and the strapsto be pushed against the partition without falling out of the oppositeend of the sack. This enables easy and quick stuffing of the hammockbody and the straps into the sack.

These and other advantages and features of the invention will be morefully understood and appreciated by reference to the description of thecurrent embodiment and the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the portable hammock in itstransportation or storage configuration;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 2-2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the partition within the stuff sack,with the remainder of the stuff sack shown in phantom;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the portable hammock in its deployed orsuspended configuration, showing the stuff sack at one end of thehammock body; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 5-5 in FIG. 4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE CURRENT EMBODIMENT I. Portable Hammock

A portable hammock constructed in accordance with a current embodimentof the invention is illustrated in the drawings and generally designated10. The portable hammock 10 generally includes a hammock body 12, a pairof suspension assemblies 14 and 15, and a stuff sack 16. The suspensionassemblies 14 and 15 may be used to suspend the hammock body 12 (seeFIG. 4). The hammock body 12 and the suspension assemblies 14 and 15 maybe stored within the stuff sack 16 (see FIGS. 1-2).

The hammock body 12 is of conventional design and construction. Thecurrent embodiment of the hammock body 12 is fabricated of 40 denier(den) rip-stop nylon fabric. The hammock body 12 is hemmed at itsopposite ends to create cord pockets 18 (see FIG. 5).

The suspension assemblies 14 and 15 each include a buckle loop 22, asuspension strap 26, and two cinch buckles 28 and 29. The buckle loopextends through the pocket 18 of the hammock body 12 and is permanentlyattached to the cinch buckle 28. The cinch buckle 29 is permanentlyattached to the strap 26 approximately midway along the length of thestrap, but could be attached at any location between the ends of thestrap. Preferably, the cinch buckle 29 is secured in position using apiece of the strap material sewn to the strap 26 on either side of thecinch buckle. This additional piece of strap material reinforces thestrap 26 in area of the cinch buckle 29. In use, one half or otherportion of the strap 26 is wrapped about a stationary object, and thatend is secured within the cinch buckle 29. The other end of the strap 26is secured within the cinch buckle 28 on the buckle loop 22. The straps26 are sometimes referred to as “tree huggers” because they are oftenwrapped around trees to suspend the hammock 10. In the currentembodiment, the buckle loops 22 are fabricated of Dyneema; and thestraps 26 are fabricated of polyester.

The stuff sack 16 is novel with the present invention. The stuff sack 16includes a double-ended bag 30 and a partition 32. Both the bag 30 andthe partition 32 are fabricated of 50 den rip-stop nylon fabric.

The double-ended bag 30 includes two opposite open ends 31, each ofwhich is hemmed to enclose a cinch cord 33. The bag 30 also includes ashoulder or carrying strap 35 sewn or otherwise attached to the bag. Thestrap 35 in the current embodiment is fabricated of polypropylene. Thestrap 35 may be of virtually any length, and indeed may include a buckle(not shown) or other device for adjusting or its length. The length maybe as short as simply providing a hand-sized handle. The length may beas long as is suitable for a shoulder sling. The strap 35 mayadditionally be used as a compression strap to be wrapped around thestuff sack 16 to reduce its size, for example, for packing within abackpack or other device.

The partition 32 is stitched or otherwise attached to the bag 30 aboutthe entire periphery of the partition 32. This attachment creates astitch line 34 visible on the outside of the bag 30. In the currentembodiment, the partition 32 is located approximately 1/4 of thedistance between the open ends 31. Other suitable locations will beapparent to those skilled in the art depending on where the hammock body12 and the suspension assemblies 14 are to be stored within the stuffsack 16.

The partition 32 includes a reinforcement portion 36 along a diameter ofthe partition 32. The reinforcement portion 36 of the current embodimentis fabricated of polypropylene. The reinforcement portion 36 defines anopening 38 (see FIG. 3), which in the current embodiment is an elongatedopening such as a slit or a slot. Other suitable openings will be knownto those skilled in the art.

As perhaps best illustrated in FIG. 5, one of the suspension assemblies14 extends through the partition 32 and more particularly through theslot 38 defined by the reinforcement portion 36. Normally, thesuspension assembly 14 extends through the slot 38 in both the storageand deployed configurations. Consequently, the stuff sack 16 normally isnot separated from the remainder of the portable hammock 10. Preferably,the opening 38 is restricted in one or more dimensions (e.g. theillustrated slit or slot) to provide at least a minimal level offriction between the reinforcement portion 36 and the suspensionassembly 14 extending therethrough. This reduces the likelihood that thestuff sack 16 will fall off the suspension assembly 14.

Alternatively, the portable hammock 10 may be stored with neither of thesuspension assemblies 14 or 15 extending through the partition 32. Thisarrangement might be preferred if either or both of the straps 26 becomesoiled, for example, by pine pitch. In that case, avoiding contactbetween the straps 26 and hammock body 12 is desired to reduce thelikelihood of the hammock body becoming soiled by the strap(s). Suchcontact can be avoided by storing the soiled strap(s) 26 on one side ofthe partition 32 and the hammock body 12 on the other side of thepartition. To facilitate this storage arrangement, separation of thestrap(s) 26 from the hammock body 12 may be accomplished, for example,by removing the strap(s) 26 from the cinch buckles 28.

Further alternatively, the portable hammock 10 may be stored with (a)the suspension assembly 14 extending through the partition 32 (asillustrated in the drawings) and (b) the suspension assembly 15separated from the hammock body 12 and stored on the same side of thepartition as the suspension assembly 14. In this arrangement, thehammock body 12 is on one side of the partition 32; and the straps 26are on the other side of the partition. This may be desired, forexample, when the strap 26 of the suspension assembly 15 is soiled asnoted above.

The portable hammock 10 is adjustable, strong, simple, and lightweight.As described, the hammock 10 of the current embodiment has a totalweight of approximately 1.5 pounds (lbs.). Of course, the weight of theportable hammock 10 will depend upon its size and the materials used infabricating the hammock. While the materials of the current embodimenthave been identified, those skilled in the art will recognize that othermaterials can and will be substituted for the identified materials toaccommodate combinations of strength, weight, cost, and otherconsiderations.

II. Operation and Use

The portable hammock 10 is shown in its storage or transportationconfiguration in FIGS. 1-2. The buckle loop 22 of the suspensionassembly 14 extends through the opening 38 in the partition 32 (see FIG.2). The suspension assembly 14 is on the right side of the partition 32as viewed in FIGS. 1-2. The open end 31 of the bag 16 is closed usingthe cinch cord 33. The suspension assembly 15 and the hammock body 12are located on the left side of the partition 32 again as viewed inFIGS. 1-2. The opposite open end 31 (not visible) of the bag 16 also isclosed using its cinch cord 33.

The portable hammock 10 is shown in its deployed or suspendedconfiguration in FIGS. 4-5. One sequence of steps for deploying orsuspending the portable hammock 10 will be described. Other sequences ofsteps will be apparent. The cinch cord 33 at the right end 31 of the bag16 is loosened to allow that end to be opened. The suspension assembly14 is withdrawn from the bag 16. The strap 26 of the suspension assembly14 is secured about a stationary object by wrapping the strap about theobject and securing the end of the strap within the cinch buckle 29.Then, the cinch cord 33 at the opposite end 31 of the bag 16 is loosenedto allow that end to be opened. The suspension assembly 15 and thehammock body 12 are withdrawn from the open end 31. The strap 26 of thesuspension assembly 15 is secured about a stationary object by wrappingthe strap 26 about the object and securing the end of the strap withinthe cinch buckle 29. Then, the straps 26 are adjusted within the cinchbuckles 28 as necessary or desired to provide the desired suspension ofthe hammock body 12 between the stationary objects. The hammock 10 isnow ready for enjoyment by one or more persons. As can be seen in FIGS.4-5, the bag 16 remains on or about the suspension assembly 14.Consequently, the bag 16 is retained in a secure location, reducing thepossibility that the bag will become lost, soiled, or torn.

When the hammock 10 is to be taken down and repacked, the suspensionassemblies 14 and 15 are removed from about the stationary objects byremoving the straps 26 from the cinch buckles 29. The suspensionassembly 14, the primary volume being the strap 26, is stuffed into theright end of the stuff sack 16 and between the partition 32 and the openend 31 as illustrated in FIG. 2. The cinch cord 33 at that end 31 isdrawn tight to close that end. The hammock body 12 and the suspensionassembly 15, the primary volume being the strap 26, are stuffed into theleft end of the stuff sack 16 between the partition 32 and the otheropen and 31. The cinch cord 33 at that end 31 is drawn tight to closethat end 31. If the carrying strap 35 has sufficient length, itoptionally may be wrapped around the stuff sack 16 to further compressthe portable hammock 10, for example, for packing within a backpack orother device.

The stuff sack 16 never leaves the portable hammock 10 regardless of theuse of the hammock. In other words, the stuff sack 16 remains on thesuspension assembly 14 in both the storage and deployed configurations.This greatly reduces the likelihood that the stuff sack 16 may be lost,soiled, or damaged.

And while the stuff sack 16 normally remains attached to the hammock,the stuff sack may be positively removed from the suspension assembly 14if desired. This normally would be done only to service the portablehammock 10, for example, to launder or replace components of theportable hammock. Although such removal would be done infrequently, ifat all, the removal may be easily performed by simply withdrawing thesuspension assembly 14 from the partition 32 through the opening 38.Conversely, the suspension assembly 14 may be reinstalled by simplypassing it through the opening 38.

Another advantage of the partition 32 is the resulting“compartmentalization” of the stuff sack 16. This enables the hammockbody 12 and the suspension assemblies 14 to be more easily stuffed intothe stuff sack 16. Specifically, the suspension assembly 14 may bestuffed against one side of the partition 32. And the other suspensionassembly 15 and the hammock body 12 may be stuffed against the otherside of the partition 32. In both cases, the partition 32 provides a“closed end” against which the components may be packed. Consequently,the partition 32 facilitates stuffing and reduces the time required forstuffing.

As an alternative for the storage configuration, the straps 26 may beremoved from the cinch buckles 28 so that the straps are separate fromthe hammock body 12. This enables, for example, both straps 26 to bestored on one side of the partition 32, while the hammock body 12 isstored on the other side of the partition. As noted above, this may bedesirable if either or both of the straps 26 become soiled, for example,by pine pitch.

III. Partitioned Stuff Sack

While the partitioned stuff sack 16 has been described in conjunctionwith the portable hammock 10, the stuff sack has additionalapplications, for example, as a “generic” stuff sack. Because thepartition 32 divides the stuff sack interior into two storage areas, thestuff sack 16 may be used in place of two conventional stuff sacks. Thepartition 32 may or may not define an opening 38, and in any event thepartition serves as a “floor” for both of the storage areas againstwhich storage items may be pushed or stuffed.

The above description is that of the current embodiment of theinvention. Various alterations and changes can be made without departingfrom the spirit and broader aspects of the invention as defined in theappended claims, which are to be interpreted in accordance with theprinciples of patent law including the doctrine of equivalents.

This disclosure is presented for illustrative purposes and should not beinterpreted as an exhaustive description of the invention or to limitthe scope of the claims to the specific elements illustrated ordescribed. For example, and without limitation, any individualelement(s) of the described embodiment may be replaced by alternativeelements that provide substantially similar functionality or otherwiseprovide adequate operation. This includes, for example, presently knownalternative elements, such as those that might currently be known to oneskilled in the art, and alternative elements that may be developed inthe future, such as those that one skilled in the art might, upondevelopment, recognize as an alternative.

The invention is not limited to the details of operation or to thedetails of construction and the arrangement of the components describedin this specification or illustrated in the drawings. The invention maybe implemented in various other embodiments and may be practiced orcarried out in alternative ways not expressly disclosed. The phraseologyand terminology are for the purpose of description and should not beregarded as limiting. The use of “including” and “comprising” andvariations thereof is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter andequivalents thereof as well as additional items and equivalents thereof.Further, enumeration may be used in the description of variousembodiments. Unless otherwise expressly stated, the use of enumerationshould not be construed as limiting the invention to any specific orderor number of components. Nor should the use of enumeration be construedas excluding from the scope of the invention any additional steps orcomponents that might be combined with or into the enumerated steps orcomponents. Any reference to “at least one of” enumerated elementsincludes any one of the enumerated elements individually and anycombination of some or all of the enumerated elements.

Directional terms, such as “left,” “right,” “vertical,” “horizontal,”“top,” “bottom,” “upper,” “lower,” “inner,” “inwardly,” “outer” and“outwardly,” are used to assist in describing the invention based on theorientation of the embodiments shown in the drawings. The use ofdirectional terms should not be interpreted to limit the invention toany specific orientation(s).

Further, the current embodiment includes a plurality of features thatare described in concert and that might cooperatively provide acollection of benefits. The present invention is not limited to onlythose embodiments that include all of these features or that provide allof the stated benefits, except to the extent otherwise expressly setforth in the issued claims. Any reference to claim elements in thesingular, for example, using the articles “a,” “an,” “the” or “said,” isnot to be construed as limiting the element to the singular.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:
 1. A hammock comprising: astuff sack defining two open ends and including two closures adapted toselectively close the ends, the stuff sack further including a partitionbetween the two ends, the partition defining an opening; a hammock bodyhaving two ends; and two suspension assemblies, each of the suspensionassemblies operatively attached to one of the hammock body ends, one ofthe suspension assemblies extending through the opening in thepartition, whereby the hammock body and the other suspension assemblycan be stored on one side of the partition and the one suspensionassembly can be stored on the other side of the partition, and furtherwhereby the stuff sack remains on the one suspension assembly when thehammock body and the suspension assemblies are withdrawn from the stuffsack.
 2. A hammock as defined in claim 1 wherein the stuff sack furtherincludes a carrying strap.
 3. A hammock as defined in claim 2 whereinthe carrying strap has a length enabling the carrying strap to be usedas a compression strap for the stuff sack.
 4. A hammock as defined inclaim 1 wherein each of the suspension assemblies comprises a strap andtwo cinch buckles.
 5. A hammock as defined in claim 1 wherein each ofthe closures comprises a cinch cord.
 6. A portable hammock comprising: ahammock body having first and second opposite ends; a first suspensionassembly attached to the first end of the hammock body; a secondsuspension assembly attached to the second end of the hammock body; anda stuff sack defining first and second open ends, the stuff sackincluding first and second closures adapted to selectively close thefirst and second open ends respectively, the stuff sack including apartition between the first and second open ends, whereby the hammockbody and the first and second suspension assemblies may be stored withinthe stuff sack with (a) at least one of the hammock and the first andthe second suspension assemblies being on one side of the partition and(b) at least one of the hammock and the first and second suspensionassemblies being on the other side of the partition.
 7. A portablehammock as defined in claim 6 wherein: the partition defines an opening;the first suspension assembly extends through the opening; the firstsuspension assembly is on the one side of the partition; and the hammockbody and the second suspension assembly are on the other side of thepartition.
 8. A portable hammock as defined in claim 6 wherein the stuffsack further includes a carrying strap.
 9. A portable hammock as definedin claim 8 wherein the carrying strap has a length enabling the carryingstrap to be used as a compression strap for the stuff sack.
 10. Ahammock as defined in claim 6 wherein each of the first and secondsuspension assemblies comprises a strap and two cinch buckles.
 11. Ahammock as defined in claim 6 wherein each of the first and secondclosures comprises a cinch cord.
 12. A hammock as defined in claim 7wherein: the hammock body is on the one side of the partition; and thefirst and second suspension straps are on the other side of thepartition.
 13. A hammock as defined in claim 7 wherein: one of the firstand second suspension straps is on the one side of the partition; andthe hammock body and the other of the first and second suspension strapsare on the other side of the partition.
 14. A stuff sack comprising: astuff sack body defining first and second open ends; first and secondclosures adapted to selectively close the first and second open endsrespectively; and a partition within the stuff sack body between thefirst and second open ends, the partition dividing the interior of thestuff sack body into first and second storage areas accessible from thefirst and second ends respectively.
 15. A stuff sack as defined in claim14 wherein the partition defines an opening, whereby a stored componentmay extend through the opening.